How do i convince my girlfriend that traveling to Nicaragua is safe?

I've been there like 5 times. We go straight from managua airport to popoyo, which is super touristy and protected. How do i make her feel at ease? I understand where she's coming from but once you go there for yourself you realize it's pretty chill.

Caught this photo while down in Costa Rica in 2023. The beach is Santa Teresa beach If I remember correctly.

I have a garage sale find that turns out to be made by the inventor of the modern polyurethane core surfboard. Since this 8'6" board weighs 30.2 lbs I think it's made of balsawood. He had a shop in Santa Monica CA. The garage was in nearby Marina del Rey, CA. How much is this #13 surfboard worth?
I have photos, including a NYT obituary of Dave Sweet, here: https://www.flickr.com/gp/100053690@N05/p20T9121xx

For those of you who rarely get to surf between trips, how do you prep?

Recently had surgery that kept me out of the water (and gym) for 4 months and have a trip coming up. I am concerned I’ll injure something from overuse when paddling etc.

Stretching? Shoulder workouts leading up to the trip? Focus on cardio? Everything related to the surgery is sorted- just haven’t been able to lift anything heavy in a while.

I know it’s an ambiguous question but any tips would be helpful since getting injured is the last thing I want. I have about 1 week where I’m now cleared to exercise before the trip.

Planning a budget trip from Aus in late Feb 2026 for myself and my wife who doesn’t surf. I’m only an intermediate surfer and very unfit these days as I no longer live on the coast.

Looking around Krui because it looks to have a few wave options and I’m wondering if there are some protected spots with smaller waves if the swell does kick up.

We have a window a month later at the end of March which historically looks more manageable in terms of size, but it’s Ramadan and a couple of the places i have enquired at are shut.

Any other suggestions would be awesome. I was keen on Sri Lanka, but the flight costs are a killer, as well as the time lost to get there and back as we only have a 10 day window away from the kids.

Needs to tick a few boxes:

• Suitable for intermediate surfer with some right hand options.
• Wife friendly. Doesn’t need to be fancy, just need some things to do aside from surfing i.e. just cruising around on scooter and checking out some food spots and waterfalls etc.
• Total budget 6k (it’s the flights that are a killer).
• Not Bali. Been there done that.

Just had a baby, getting occasional 1 hour windows to surf - what’s your guys go-to board that you can ride even in the shittiest socal waves? Looking at the JS flame fish. Would love any recommendations.

Wife is 5 days past due date and there is a swell. Should I paddle out?

I'm basically looking for uncrowded lefts for 2 weeks. I don't care about luxury. Is it worth it to pay for an all inclusive surf camp?

I think I'd rather play things by ear and be free to stay at different hostels. Will I have a hard time finding/getting to good waves without a local guide?

I'm interested in the ThunderBomb surf camp but it's like 3k for a week...

Weekday/Weekend parking at 2nd beach is up to $25/35 / day and up to $180 for non-resident season pass. Stupid tariffs!

With all the new tariffs being introduced by Trump in the effort to boost domestic manufacturing, how do we think this will impact the surfboard industry? On the one hand, domestic shapers have been cursing the Chinese “pop-outs” for years and this kinda thing, I would assume, would result in a boost for the US manufacturers. On the other hand, I still wonder how many materials and tools domestic producers have to source from overseas and if this could still result in surfboard prices going up even more for consumers, even domestically. What are your thoughts?

Salut and hello,

do you know a shaper in Northern France, preferably in Finistere?

Merci!

Hi there,

I will be in Costa Rica from 12th to 27th of August with a couple of friends.

We are intermediate surfer and as I know it will be OH season it could be good to have different spot options to avoid crowd or big swell / close out days.

Any suggestion about spot (including when and how they works based on swell direction wind tide) / accommodation / point of interest (what to do when we don’t surf) are more than welcome.

Basically we just want to make the most out of those two weeks and try to avoid spot where if it’s too big you don’t have any options.

Thank you!

Sup Kooks,

Just want to crowd source some ideas on where to go this summer. I’ve got 5 weeks off from end of June to August, and am doubting where I should go. Looking for some additional ideas for my warm water surf trip.

I was planning on going back to Indo, but I’m now second-guessing that decision. Just starting to get the vibe that everywhere I want to go is completely cooked.

In 2015 I spent 4 months driving around and surfing Indo. We surfed at a lot of the major spots on every island we visited, but I did miss Desert Point in Lombok. I drove from Bali, through Lombok, through all of Sumbawa to Flores (hit up the Komodo Islands), then all the way back across Sumbawa and Lombok, paused in Bali for a week to renew visas, then drove 75% of Java, and back to Bali. I feel like we went to some really gnarly remote waves, but even 10 years ago I was pretty surprised how packed some places were. Lakey Peak was a gong show, Super Suck was too, but it only turned on for a couple days. Obviously we hit up less crowded and a little less quality waves around. We had bikes so it was easy.

I was planning on going back to Indo, starting in the Mentawai’s now that I’ve got some real adult money, and working my way down Sumbawa, then revisiting a couple places in Java, and possibly doing G-Land before hopping over to Lombok or Sumbawa. But after seeing a lot of travel influencers kooking it in Lombok I’m worried it’s just as chaotic as Bali was 10 years ago.

I’ve been to Nicaragua 4 times now, and lived on the East Coast in Aus for a year for grad school. Open to going back to those spots but I’m not really sure I want to spend those 5 weeks in Central America, or Aus frankly.

I’ll be flying from London, UK since I have to go to a wedding right before my trip, so realistically I can only bring 2 boards with me from California. Happy to buy another board on arrival for the conditions.

Drop your other favorite countries or trips you’ve done below. Warm water please, board shorts + rashie is as cold as I want to be. Cheers.

Was just at Dominical and the sets were closed out 7' sand dredging barrels. To even get a glimpse of ride of a corner you had to be in the impact zone. I took a big close out straight on my back duck diving which fucked my back up for a day. Is there a specific strategy to duck dive barreling top-to-bottom closeouts without getting annihilated (aside from ditching) when it's landing right on you?

Had the swell for the week but the sand would not cooperate. If it would have it would have been epic. Don't know what's worse, no swell or big tubing closeouts.

I’m going to need surgery on my foot and want to stay out on the water to get some ocean time. I’m looking at prone paddle boards because it seems like a fun way to explore while keeping in shape. I can’t find very much info about this, so would appreciate some guidance on sizing, and any recommended models too. I’m 6’1” 170 lbs for reference.

One of those days where the waves were better than you thought. The board is a 5'2 stringer less epoxy quad.

I've never prone paddled before, but I've been surfing / on the water my entire life, and have easy access to both Newport Harbor and the ocean. I'd really like to do the Ben Did Go one year (maybe even this year if I do alright in a qualifier), so I'm really looking for a board that does well in the open ocean.

What size are guys paddling in the open ocean? 12'? Or do the 14'ers do okay with some swell?

Thanks

I’m talking about you green shirt guy at Bolsa Chica

I’ve noticed a lot of y’all kooks in here frequent CR. Well I’m going in may and don’t feel like lugging boards + my family through the airport. (I’m also juggling the idea of just renting a family when I’m there instead)

Anyway I’ll be staying between Negra and Marbella. I’d be willing to go to Tamarindo for better price/options. What shops would yall recommend? Any that post their inventory online? Would like to be able to swap out for a step up if the waves are bigger.

TIA

I've just seen a 2nd hand 7'4 Morning of the Earth "Massive" for steal where I live. I surf a beachie and usually ride a 9'6 glider/speed shape. I can make turns, trim and generally not embarrass myself, but I'm no ripper. Comfortable with waves up to head high when we get them.

Obviously I'd love to waste my cash on anything associated with Torren Martyn, but am I going to get buyers regret as soon as I try and stand up on a 7'4? Please talk me into being poorer.

Should i let this repair oder is it enough if i put some tape on it?

Broke off nose in shallow beach break, “repaired” it to bring on a backpacking camping trip. It just needs to float a couple of days in head high.

Construction: Cut it sort of level, layer of resin to make it smoother, laminated two layers of fiberglass, and a hot coat. Will sand down sharp bits and taper after hardens.

Should be fine, right?

Trying to get back to surfing ASAP after arthroscopic surgery to trim a torn meniscus. For those that have done it, about how long until you were paddling back out confidently?